何必 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 于文文Kelly Yu, 于文文
• Album: 前任4

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the evocative world of Chinese emotions with 于文文's "何必" (Why Bother). This beautifully crafted ballad offers a unique opportunity to connect with the nuances of Chinese expression related to love, loss, and acceptance. Through its poignant lyrics and 于文文's heartfelt delivery, you can explore common phrases for expressing regret, longing, and the strength found in letting go. The song's clear narrative and accessible melody make it an excellent choice for language learners seeking to grasp authentic emotional vocabulary and cultural perspectives on relationships. Discover how Chinese music conveys deep feelings, making "何必" not just a song, but a gateway to understanding the language's soulful depth.

[English]

Actually, after we broke up,

I always thought it’d be better not to disturb you.

But deep down, I still think

we should meet one last time.

Maybe because we never really said goodbye properly before.

There were times I mistook someone else’s back for yours,

but I didn’t have the courage to call your name.

I’m not just afraid it wasn’t you—I’m more afraid it *was* you.

Afraid these tears would reveal how much I miss you,

and undo all the effort we put into letting go.

We agreed to keep it a secret,

that I’d let you go the same way I once loved you.

I waited for you the same way I ended up losing you.

I held you so tightly once, but it was suffocating to not let go.

Why spend a lifetime saying goodbye, clinging to fleeting moments?

If we meet again, let wrinkles be our tribute.

Let’s forgive ourselves for only making it this far.

Love is a helpless kind of regret.

Don’t be childish, crying in resentment.

I hope you forget me quickly.

And I hope I still have the right to be happy.

Keeping silent is our unspoken agreement.

I’ll let you go the same way I once loved you.

I waited for you the same way I ended up losing you.

Some people can’t be forgotten but don’t need to be together.

Why spend a lifetime saying goodbye, clinging to fleeting moments?

If this is how we loved, why dwell on regrets?

Gray-haired, holding hands, watching the night view—

too bad we don’t have that kind of luck.

The dream was too beautiful—just a sigh.

[Chinese]

其实咱们分开以后

我一直觉得还是不要来打扰你比较好。

可是我心里还是在想

应该和你再来见一次。

可能是因为我们之前也没好好说过再见吧。

曾有几次认错你背影

却没有喊名字的勇气

怕不是你更害怕是你

怕这眼泪泄露了想你

摧毁我们分开的努力

约定好了要变成秘密

我是怎样爱过你就怎样放过你

我是怎样等过你就怎样错过你

曾那么紧的抱过你不放手太窒息

花一生告别你贪朝夕又何必

再遇见你以皱纹致敬

原谅我们只走到这里

爱是无能为力的可惜

别孩子气哭着不甘心

祝你很快就把我忘记

祝我还有幸福的权利

守口如瓶也算是默契

我是怎样爱过你就怎样放过你

我是怎样等过你就怎样错过你

有的人不可以忘记也不必在一起

花一生告别你贪朝夕又何必

若这样爱过你谈遗憾又何必

花白头发牵手看夜景

可惜你我没这种好运

梦太美丽如一声叹息

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
分开 fēn kāi A2	verb - to separate, to break up
爱 ài A1	verb - to love noun - love
忘记 wàng jì A2	verb - to forget
告别 gào bié B1	verb - to say goodbye
摧毁 cuī huǐ B2	verb - to destroy, to wreck
勇气 yǒng qì B1	noun - courage, bravery
泄露 xiè lòu B2	verb - to reveal, to leak
约定 yuē dìng B1	verb - to agree, to promise noun - agreement, promise
放过 fàng guò B1	verb - to let go, to spare
错过 cuò guò B1	verb - to miss (an opportunity)
窒息 zhì xī C1	verb - to suffocate, to stifle
皱纹 zhòu wén B2	noun - wrinkles
默契 mò qì C1	noun - tacit understanding
遗憾 yí hàn B2	noun - regret adjective - regrettable
花白 huā bái C1	adjective - grey (hair)
叹息 tàn xī B2	verb - to sigh
可惜 kě xī B1	adjective - regrettable, pitiful

Key Grammar Structures

• 我一直觉得还是不要来打扰你比较好。

  ➔ Use of 'haishi' (还是) for comparison or preference

  ➔ In '我一直觉得还是不要来打扰你比较好', '还是' emphasizes the choice of 'not disturbing you' as a better option.

• 可能是因为我们之前也没好好说过再见吧。

  ➔ Use of 'ye...ba' (也...吧) for mild speculation or understatement

  ➔ In '可能是因为我们之前也没好好说过再见吧', '也没' softens the statement by downplaying the goodbye, combined with '吧' for informal speculation.

• 怕不是你更害怕是你

  ➔ Use of 'pa' (怕) for 'fear' or supposition with double topic

  ➔ In '怕不是你更害怕是你', '怕' introduces fear or supposition, creating a double topic structure where '不是你' and '是你' compare identities.

• 约定好了要变成秘密

  ➔ Use of 'hao' (好) as a resultative complement for completion

  ➔ In '约定好了要变成秘密', '好了' indicates that the agreement has been made and finalized, becoming a secret.

• isometric带我怎样等过你就怎样错过你

  ➔ Parallel structure with correlative adverbs

  ➔ In '我是怎样爱过你就怎样放过你', the '怎样...就怎样' structure highlights parallelism in actions: love in the same way as release.

• 曾那么紧的抱过你不放手太窒息

  ➔ Use of 'tai' (太) for excessive degree

  ➔ In '曾那么紧的抱过你不放手太窒息', '太' emphasizes that letting go would be too suffocating, indicating excess pressure.

• 原谅我们只走到这里

  ➔ Use of 'zhi' (只) to limit scope

  ➔ In '原谅我们只走到这里', '只' limits the extent to 'only this far', implying inability to go further.

• 别孩子气哭着不甘心

  ➔ Use of negative imperative with adverbs

  ➔ In '别孩子气哭着不甘心', '别' forms a negative imperative, advising not to be childish by crying reluctantly.

• 祝我还有幸福的权利

  ➔ Use of 'hai' (还) for emphasis on continuity

  ➔ In '祝我还有幸福的权利', '还有' emphasizes that the speaker 'still' has the right to happiness despite the breakup.

• 梦太美丽如一声叹息

  ➔ Use of metaphor with adverbial phrases

  ➔ In '梦太美丽如一声叹息', '如一声叹息' metaphorically compares the beautiful dream to a sigh, using '如' for simile.